Here is the problem with your analysis. You are equating Chinese industrial success with actual Chinese government showing toughness when they get attacked by the EU or any other western country. Are they in any way comparable?
China's industry is successful because of many factors including its much lower GDP per capita and this lower cost of engineers and factory workers, huge population of STEM grads, massive govt investment, infra and so on.
That has nothing to do with how tough Chinese government is when they attacked by the west.
If EU attacks China with tariff on EVs, which is a new and high tech industry, and China only hits back by putting tariff on some EU farm goods, are they in any shape or form equal actions?
No, its China doing a much lower level attack on a good they don't need and that has no strategic significance.
If EU bans Huawei and ZTE using national security and China does nothing, Is China being tough?
EU nationalizes Nexperia and Italy takes back a few companies Chinese companies bought. When was the last time China took control of a European company in China?
What has China done to make Australia walk back on the massive anti-China attacks under Morisson? Huawei ban, national security legislation veto power, foreign interference law....the list goes on. Has Australia walked back any of those things? No. But China walked backed on its hidden trade restrictions on coal and iron imports. Again, chickening out.
Let's face it. China is a pragmatic, successful and slowly getting powerful country. But its completely timid against the west. That is the fact. Maybe because China keeps its head down that EU still allows Chinese cars, perhaps they would have banned them completely by now if China showed some spine. But the fact is, China still is too timid.
Successful without dignity, that is China.
